The Tigers’ incredible run down the stretch last season ended a number of droughts, from their first winning season since 2016 to their first postseason berth since 2014, then their first playoff series win since 2013. Now it’s time to see if their MLB-best start to the season can end another drought and earn them first their first All-Star starting lineup member since 2015. Detroit has an excellent chance to send multiple players to the All-Star Game for a second straight year. The way that Tarik Skubal has been pitching this season, he could very well earn the nod from AL manager Aaron Boone to start the Midsummer Classic on the mound, an honor he was denied last year in favor of then-Oriole Corbin Burnes. But no Tiger has been voted by fans to start an All-Star Game since Miguel Cabrera’s final start in 2015 at first base. • VOTE NOW: 2025 PRO SPIRIT MLB All-Star Ballot. Watch the All-Star Game presented by Mastercard July 15 on FOX Arguably no Tiger has a better chance to end the string than Gleyber Torres, who has quietly become a key cog in Detroit’s dangerous lineup. |
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Once upon a time, Torres looked like a perennial All-Star. He was selected in each of his first two Major League seasons, a reflection of the authority with which he arrived in the big leagues, including 62 home runs and 167 RBIs over those first two years. His consideration dropped as his production dipped, though he was arguably snubbed in 2022 amidst a 4.1 bWAR season that included an .809 OPS over the first half. The bounce-back season Torres is posting not only has justified his decision to believe in himself on a short-term contract as a free agent last winter, it has justified All-Star consideration. Torres entered Thursday leading AL second basemen with a 144 wRC+ and 1.5 fWAR. He has taken to his spot high in the Tigers’ batting order and become the kind of high-walk, low-strikeout hitter that puts up tenacious at-bats. His 31 walks rank in the top 10 among AL hitters, while his 11.9 percent strikeout rate ranked fifth best in the league. Torres’ Baseball Savant page is a tribute to how stubborn of an at-bat he has become, and how well he has fit the Tigers’ team philosophy of dominating the strike zone. He’s in the top percentile among Major League hitters in low chase rate, the 95th percentile for low strikeout rate, and the 93rd percentile for walk rate. Just as important, he has leveraged that into quality contact, even beyond his already solid stats: 91st percentile for expected batting average, 92nd percentile for expected slugging percentage and 96th percentile for expected wOBA. |
Torres’ resurgence comes just in time for a wide-open debate at the position. Marcus Semien, the AL’s starting second baseman the past two years, is suffering through a career-worst season. Nine-time All-Star Jose Altuve is now primarily a left fielder. Willi Castro, an All-Star reserve with Minnesota last year and back on the ballot at second base, has been limited by injuries and has played more outfield than second. The Tigers haven’t had an All-Star infielder voted or selected since 2016, when Cabrera was still a first baseman. Detroit hasn’t had an All-Star second baseman since 2014, Ian Kinsler’s first season as a Tiger. Jonathan Schoop came closest to ending the drought in 2021, when he had 16 homers and a .787 OPS in the first half. Want to help Torres get to Atlanta for the Midsummer Classic? All-Star voting is underway online at MLB.com/vote and on the MLB and Ballpark apps. Fans can vote up to five times per day until noon ET on Thursday, June 26. From there, the top two vote-getters at each position (top six outfielders) will advance to the second phase of voting to determine the All-Star starters at each position; vote totals will reset, and votes will be tabulated from noon on June 30 until noon on July 2. |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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Who was the last Tiger to homer three times in a game before Kerry Carpenter on Monday? A. Miguel Cabrera B. Prince Fielder C. J.D. Martinez D. Victor Martinez |
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• Triple-A Toledo: The Mud Hens entered Friday at 33-27, riding an eight-game winning streak that included a six-game series sweep of Louisville last week before beginning this week with back-to-back losses at Guardians-affiliated Columbus. No. 10 prospect Troy Melton made his Triple-A debut on Thursday after being promoted from Erie, continuing his trajectory toward consideration for a potential late-season call to Detroit. Melton struck out seven over 4 2/3 innings with just a couple of solo homers allowed. • Double-A Erie: The SeaWolves entered Friday atop the Eastern League’s Southwest Division at 37-17 thanks to a five-game winning streak. No. 21 prospect Max Anderson went 8-for-20 with four doubles last week against Phillies-affiliated Reading, including a 4-for-4 performance on May 29 as part of a doubleheader sweep. No. 5 prospect Thayron Liranzo homered in three consecutive games through Tuesday, raising his season total to seven. Knuckleballer Kenny Serwa made his Double-A debut on Thursday and delivered six innings, allowing four runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts. • High-A West Michigan: The Whitecaps saw their nine-game winning streak end Wednesday against Lake County, but they still hold the Midwest League’s best record at 38-16 entering Friday. No. 2 prospect Kevin McGonigle and No. 4 prospect Josue Briceño homered back to back on Tuesday, the latter as part of a 4-for-4 performance in a 9-2 win. • Single-A Lakeland: The Flying Tigers entered Friday atop the Florida State League’s West Division at 31-22, including a 3-1 weekend series at Bradenton and a homestand-opening win Tuesday against Daytona. No. 3 prospect Bryce Rainer left Tuesday’s win with an apparent shoulder injury. Outfielder Jackson Strong had a four-hit game with a home run and three RBIs on May 30. |
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D. V-Mart hit a trio of solo homers on June 16, 2016, in a 10-4 win at Kansas City. |
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